Disappointing end for Oakmont

Having topped Littleton -- Friday's opponent -- twice during the regular season, the Oakmont Regional field hockey team picked a poor time for what Spartans head coach Leanne Roy called its "worst game all season."

That sub-par performance led to sixth-seeded Oakmont making an early exit from Central Mass. Division 2 tournament, as the No. 11 Tigers left Arthur I. Hurd Memorial Field with a 3-0 upset victory in the postseason's first round.

"I'm thrilled," Littleton head coach Diane Crory said. "I told them if they came in believing they couldn't win, they weren't going to do it. They were nervous, knowing how strong Oakmont is, so I told them they had to change that attitude. They had to believe they could win."

Meaghan Wile scored twice for the Tigers (9-6-3) and Jill Petkewich turned aside four shots to pick up the shutout. Littleton will host 14th-seed Nipmuc on Sunday.

"Littleton played great today," Roy said. "You have to give them credit."

Ahead 1-0 nearly 20 minutes into the second half, the Tigers put the game out of reach on a gorgeous one-timer by Elliana Stormwind past Oakmont goalie Morgan LeBlanc (4 saves). The senior forward camped on the back post and converted a strong pass from the right side off the stick of Kerri Bolivar to double the lead with 11:08 to play.

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The Spartans (12-4-1) nearly found the net twice in the second half, as senior Anna Thornton acted as a catalyst for scoring chances. The forward sent a hard pass that just sneaked past the outstretched stick of Sarah Craig with 13:20 to go and later blasted a shot that was carefully turned away by Petkewich with eight minutes left.

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